More homes near PBIA could be bought

February 8, 2008|By Sally Apgar Staff Writer

West Palm Beach — In a joint letter Thursday, U.S. Reps. Alcee Hastings and Ron Klein urged the Palm Beach County Airports Department to consider buying more homes in the Hillcrest neighborhood east of Palm Beach International Airport, which is expanding its runways.

Airport Director Bruce Pelly said that under a Federal Aviation Administration buyout program the county bought 100 acres that included about 200 homes in the Hillcrest neighborhood. Pelly said the buyout began in the 1980s with the relocation of the terminal and cost the federal government more than $40 million.

The county has since sold the land for $3 million to Florida Atlantic University, which is planning to build school athletic fields and a 12-acre park for use by residents.

Pelly noted neighborhoods in the noise zone to the north and south of the airport also were purchased.

Klein, D-Boca Raton, and Hastings, D-Miramar, who are responding to complaints from some residents about their falling home values, suggested the airport "poll the residents to inquire who would take advantage of a buyout."

Their letter said: "It would be irresponsible to ignore the impact that the airport expansion will have on nearby residents and not accommodate and compensate those individuals accordingly."